Arsene Wenger requires a leader but William Gallas has not stepped up

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For all his qualities and achievements, Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has often appeared to possess certain blind spots - identifying goalkeepers, centre backs and recognising any wrongdoing among his own players, for example - but his failure to find a suitable leader for his outstanding young team could be the most damaging oversight of all.

After being fortunate enough to inherit Tony Adams before shrewdly spotting the inspirational qualities of Patrick Vieira, his last two appointments as captain have been less successful, with Thierry Henry and William Gallas leaving Arsenal short of authoritative leadership when it has mattered most. It is